Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has disclosed that he held "constructive discussions" with the Nigerian Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Her Excellency Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, following tensions stirred by controversial remarks made by a self-proclaimed Nigerian community leader in Ghana.
In a post shared on his official Facebook page, Ablakwa stated that Minister Odumegwu-Ojukwu had been dispatched to Ghana by Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on a political consultation and fact-finding mission after "recent fallouts from incendiary statements made by a Nigerian community leader living in Ghana." The statement, attributed to Chukwudi Jude Ihenetu, who refers to himself as an Igbo king in Ghana, drew widespread criticism and protests from segments of the Ghanaian public last weekend, sparking concern over the implications for Ghana-Nigeria relations.
Ablakwa welcomed the engagement from the Nigerian government, describing it as "heartwarming and reassuring to know that the Nigerian government does not endorse any part of those condemnable pronouncements by the gentleman." He emphasized that both countries had reaffirmed their longstanding and deep-rooted friendship: "Ghana and Nigeria reaffirmed our cordial and inseparable historical relations with a firm commitment at ensuring that this recent blip is not allowed to mar our great relations." Minister Odumegwu-Ojukwu, he said, expressed gratitude to President John Dramani Mahama and the people of Ghana for the maturity and restraint shown in the face of provocation, noting that it had helped to prevent any escalation. "The Minister of State expressed gratitude to President Mahama, his government and Ghanaians for the maturity and tolerance demonstrated which has prevented an escalation," Ablakwa wrote.
He further noted that the Nigerian government had given assurances regarding the safety of Ghanaians in Nigeria. "Minister Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu assured that President Tinubu's government will also continue to guarantee the safety of Ghanaians living in Nigeria," he added.
